Craig takes Euro cruise as Pickering races to cup spot

Craig Pickering can confidently expect to make his senior outdoor debut for Britain in the European Cup in two weeks as our No 1 sprinter.

On an afternoon when you could have floated a boat on Glasgow's Scotstoun track, the European junior champion left the best of Britain's speed merchants in his wake.

Selectors meeting next Monday to pick the team that will defend Britain's place in Europe's Super League need take no more time over their choice for the 100m than Pickering did running it.

"It's Craig all the way," said his training partner, European indoor 60 metres champion Jason Gardener, who was disqualified from the race for false starting. "That was a great performance in these conditions."

Pickering's time of 10.22sec equalled his career- best achieved two years ago when he was aiming to beat Europe's juniors.

"It was worth better because of the weather," he said. "At last I'm back to the form I was at 18. It was seen by the rest of the lads as a run for that spot, so I just hope it's secured it for me."

Mark Lewis-Francis has the fastest time among Britons this summer of 10.19sec, run when he finished third in Belgrade last Tuesday, and although he had the better first 50m yesterday, Pickering was a long stride and 0.15sec ahead at the finish.

"My head was gone after the second false start," said Lewis-Francis, but Pickering simply ignored his friend's predicament. "I like Jason to do well but it's an individual sport. I have to look after myself. I couldn't afford to be fazed," he said.

Pickering and Lewis-Francis combined with Ryan Scott and Marlon Devonish later to win a 4x100m relay in Britain's colours in 38.83sec against the U.S., Spain, Portugal, Scotland and Britain's Under 23s.

The best performance of this Norwich Union Glasgow Grand Prix came from javelin thrower Goldie Sayers, the British record holder since she threw 65.05m two weeks ago at Loughborough.

She threw the second furthest of her career at 63.59m but more significant were the names of those she beat.

All three medallists from last year's European Championships found the distance beyond them, most notably German Steffi Nerius, the champion who also won Olympic silver in 2004.

"A career-changing moment," four-time European champion Steve Backley called it. "She can go toe to toe with the world's best now."

Sayers, like Pickering, thought her performance worth far more because of the weather but revealed: "The motivation was taking as many big scalps as I could."

For a few hours two weeks ago, Sayers thought she led the world rankings. In any case, the boost to her confidence was immense. "She will go from strength to strength now," predicted Mark Roberson, a friend since she was 12 who took over her coaching only last September.

Roberson, who calls her Gold, spotted three fundamental flaws in technique.

"Her throwing action was all manufactured rather than natural. I just wanted her back to what she used to do when I first knew her. Fingers crossed we get it right between now and the World Championships. We are way ahead of where we expected to be."

Not all of Britain's younger generation were so successful. High jumper Martyn Bernard, the Commonwealth silver medallist last year, could manage no better than 2.15m for fourth.

Tim Benjamin, opening his 400m season, was a fading sixth, with fellow Briton Andrew Steele fifth as the Congo's Gary Kikaya held off American Xavier Carter for victory.

The curtain was brought down by Nicola Sanders as a tribute to her 400m victory in her last race in the European Indoor Championships.

She only had to run 300m this time but thrashed a domestic field by a margin of 10m, a fitting climax to the summer's first televised meeting.

The performance by Jessica Ennis, Britain's No 2 heptathlete, in a UK Women's League match in Manchester will have earned her a call-up for the European Cup team.

Ennis, 20, recorded 6.54m in the long jump, 12.97sec for the 110m hurdles and 23.29 in the 200m - all career bests, although the records won't stand because of a 3.1m per second tailwind.